\| Divided Paths |/ - Chapt. 3 - Resolute - Biome (IC)

Avlex and Survivor both looked over at the alien. Survivor more or less grunted and looked away. Avlex sighed before for speaking.

"Don't mind him. Yes we are going to be working together it seems. I am Lieutenant Avlex Darnex of the Xliveien Federation Military. and He," Pointing to Survivor, "is General Salinex Darnex. He the only Xliveien mercenary and prefers to be called The Survivor."

Lucean nodded, the light here body was emanating somehow brightening in response to her interest being caught. So this Alvex being was a lieutenant and the quiet one- she hadn't really felt offended by his ignoring her, just a bit annoyed, but it was something she quickly got over- was called Survivor and is a mercenary? Interesting...

"It is nice to meet you," Lucean politely nodded at them before introducing herself. "I am Lucean, Captain of a Nevalrok ship and also a part of the Colony Defenders for my race, so we mostly deal with buying and conquering areas." She sighed and looked up at the screen showing the thee possible areas to work in. "I still consider myself a captain, at least."

Survivor heard this and started to move his robotic arms fingers so he could speak.

"At least you have the dignity to say you have your rank unlike my brother. He believes he was given his rank out of pity. Which is the dumbest thing I've heard from him."

Survivor silenced himself then and watched his brother. Avlex just sat there and took what he said though. All Avlex does is sigh and stand there. He heard scolding like this all to much.

Suflet Calit grabbed the device and held onto it with an iron grip. "Thank you," he said to the Nevarzian while staring at the device. He wondered why it need to be destroyed if it were to be stolen, but decided against asking any questions. "I am sorry if I sound a bit.. ungrateful, but will there be more technology that will be given to us?" He did his best to hide his gulp.

"Poison huh. I'll keep that in mind." said Fluffy. "So you guys have more experience with this race. If she wanted to get off this world where would she go next?"

As other aliens chose their new profession and left the room, Keo still sat in his chair. So, this was his future. A steward, an engineer, or a worker on the deck.
He wouldn't fit here, he knew. He felt like he needed an adult.

Idiot, you're on your own now. No Nolwikkan can help you anymore. Be a strategist. Bide your time until the Kongaa finds this blasted place and obliterates it.

Maybe I'll be an engineer?

In his youth, Keo had worked with his father on projects. They would create miniature robots and add solar panels to some houses in the city. That was his father's job, an engineer. At least he had some experience in that department, no matter how little.
"An engineer, then," Keo declared rather quietly. He continued to sit silently, waiting to be escorted by the Jorro'kil guards.

"I was a captain too, once," said a solemn voice. Ariz stepped up to the screen next to Lucean and her two companions. Looking at the screen, he shrugged and selected a deck job.

"Seems to be a popular position, so why not?"
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"If she wanted to get off the planet, she might just call in one of her own ships to come and pick her up," said Azra. "That ship would arrive under cloak and then simply spirit her away."

"She knows she can't do that" Said Krim. "The field we set up is still active so if she called a ship in it wouldn't have the power to leave. It might not even be able to stay cloaked."

"Then she'll probably try to disable it" said Fluffy. "We need to set up a trap in the colony control room."

Lucean looked at Avlex as Survivor spoke up. The statement didn't make any sense to her. "I doubt that such a rank would be given to someone out of pity- if it were to be done it would risk too many lives. I might not have seen you fight, but I am pretty sure you were nominated for your skill and not out of pity."

As Ariz spoke up, Lucean turned her head towards him. So he was a captain, too? Or at least he once was? Lucean smiled at him, "It is nice to meet another on board, then. I led a fleet that mostly dealt with relations, however. Neveals tend to be more peaceful than most and when it comes to land we prefer to trade for it instead of conquering with violence. That is usually a last resort. It has been done a few times, however."

Galactic Date: 51,764
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Kesh Pol nodded slightly. "Yes. I will return to my ship now." He lowered his voice to a whisper. "After these 'Markovans' leave, your technology and machinery will arrive. Be ready."
 
The Nevarzians then left, all but ignoring the Markovans and the attempts of friendliness from one of them.
 
Much later in the day, several medium-sized Nevarzian crafts landed in an entirely different part of the city. They were all a light blue and silver, along with a rivetted texture for most of their outer surfaces.
 
Their cargo was a mix of basic home appliances and personal tech, such as coolers, datapads, air-conditioning systems, along industrial devices. 3D-Printing machines, security systems for homes and buildings, and experimental nanobot technology. Along with this, Nevarzian engineers came to assist the Nisip in understanding and installing the aforementioned devices, as well as symbol-based instructions for when the Nevarzians were absent. Clearly, they were intent on creating an alliance that would not hurt them, as so many alliances had before.
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Irooscinian Date: 10,030
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Xaer and the others had been running along the sewer system underneath the construction site. Despite the relative cleanness of it, the Purists' pace had slowed to a trot, and one of them stopped.
 
"Listen, Velsen's disappeared, probably captured. Maybe if we give up now, we won't get shot, and-"
 
Xaer cut him off. "No. You can't give this up. We worked hard to achieve what we have. I will not allow you to give this up. We're getting through this, and you ARE coming with."
 
The young Purist went by the deserter, and reached out at his arm, only to have it pushed away.
 
"Fine." Xaer pulled out his plasma pistol and held it up to the Kil's head. "We'll carry your body."
In truth, this would be cumbersome and limit their escape greatly, but he didn't care.
 
"Do it." The deserter said in a provoking tone.
 
"You're more of a liability alive than dead." Xaer said as a sort of last chance.

"I want to see the aliens die.. but this has failed." The Kil said.
 
Xaer squeezed the trigger on his plasma pistol, and purple blood spewed out of the other side of the deserter's head.
 
"Give me a hand with this." He said to the other three, preparing to pick up the body. They solemnly complied.

Corena immediately tapped on "Engineering" instinctively, and it looked as if she were possessed. She wasn't suited for anything else, and engineering was her specialty to begin with. She was satisfied with both the option and her choice. At least this might be able to give her something she found enjoyable to do, and it may also allow Mischief more opportunities to infiltrate the ship's network. The Wreae also seemed satisfied with this, based upon the readings from the AI core that Corena could view on her HUD.

She turned to Keo, grinning slightly. From what she could tell, he was a Vil'Nolwikkan, obviously quite young. "Looks like we'll be working together," She greeted him, glancing at the Jorro'kil guards. "I'm Corena," She said simply.

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In an action that may have seemed surprising to Straus and Nazzi, Nvarn slowly nodded, staring at Velsen. He took a deep breath in, a rather mechanical sound considering his augmentation. "Sometimes," He growled, "I wonder what keeps me sane, being in a position like this. I am a Sentinel, one of the three, the most eminent position in the Krathunian military. What it took to reach that rank..." He hesitated, closing his eyes. "The friends I've watched suffer and die, the innocents I encountered who could not escape the maw of death... It's hard to discover what makes my work, my own being, justified. I do know what it is, however... It is those who have not perished, those who have not joined the ranks of the dead on a list or a group of numbers. It is protecting them."

Nvarn blinked, gazing over the others, before turning to Velsen. "I hope you've considered your actions," He spat. With this, he walked off towards the exit, slowly fading into the darkness with his tactical cloak. He was going to hunt down every remaining Purist, and would end this threat on Ekest once and for all, no matter the cost.

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Ilinya stared up at the holograph projector on the bridge of the Enigma. The Federation had been contacted, and they were currently communicating with the rest of Confederate command as to how to approach the current situation.

But had she made the correct choice? The Nevarzians weren't a threat, judging by what they had become after the collapse of the Dominion. At the same time, they could become one in the future. Time would ultimately decide the fate of the Nevarzians, Ilinya concluded. Either they would write their own fate, or the Federation would record it for them.

However, a matter pertaining to their contact with the Nevarzians still bothered Ilinya. Someone, or something, had been listening in on their conversation with the Nevarzians. This unsettled the Ryun due to the possibilities. It could be anyone, from the Dominion, the Terminus Pact, possibly even something they could have never considered or imagined. The signal traced back to uncharted territory, leading to more questions about the origins of this eavesdropper. Ilinya pondered this, and made a decision.

Shortly after...

The Enigma exited warp in the system that held the planet of Siloni. Quickly, the frigate's systems scanned the planet that had been suspected. The readings showed that Siloni was extremely cold, devoid of any oxygen, though there was nitrogen in the atmosphere. In addition, there were signs of civilization, which included satellites and such in orbit. Ilinya couldn't think of any life that could inhabit a planet like this aside from a few, namely machine races, possibly the Eldraunn. Nonetheless, the planet was certainly hostile to Ryun, though it was a candidate for something else.

A transmission came from the Enigma to the communications networks of Silona. "Greetings. I am Commander Ilinya, in command of the frigate Enigma of the Ryun-Wreae Federation of the United Ieegan Systems. We were in communication with another civilization when we were notified of something else listening in on the exchange, a signal that was traced back to this planet. Please acknowledge and state your identity."

Ariz nodded. "Sounds like a nice strategy," he said. "My people tended more towards the war-like side, but that was a long time ago. We tend to be more peace-loving nowadays." There seemed to be a note of sarcasm in his voice.
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Hissin watched the Nevarzians leave. He turned to Suflet. "I hope we didn't make things too difficult."
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Haslin nodded. "We'd better move quickly. No knowing what the Liirlith will do otherwise."

Meanwhile...

"There musssst be a way through that field," said Zara into her comm.

"Not without risssssking disssscovery," came the reply.

"What isssssss to happen then?" asked Zara.

"Find a way to deactivate the field. We have a new missssssssion in mind for you onboard a rogue Jorro'kil vessssel that we have located."
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Nazzi turned to the two prisoners, Velsen and Gettrav. "I warn you two, I hold you both personally responsible for everything that has occurred Don't try anything funny; I personally promise to shoot the first one of you that does anything out of line.

The guards, Jorro'kil Federation troops to be exact, led the cadets into their respective training areas, though did not quiet them during the journey. They themselves did not respond to anything spoken to them, keeping a stalwart silence.

Arrival for the recruits meant engaging in another holographic system, this one meant for operator preparation. For Lucean and others, protocol for ship component safety, cargo handling, and some navigation restriction rules. Overall, she and her peers were encouraged to make observations of the techniques used in the related tasks, learn, and help, all by a robotic, vaguely masculine voice. It wasn't an AI, rather a prerecorded message, though altered in tone from a Jorro'kil voice.  

It was much the same in the Engineering department, however, Engineering employed a scanning system in tandem with the holographic display. Projected, holographic "machinery" was presented as damaged or incorrectly built. Sensors would detect when one of the recruit's hands reached a certain threshold of the hologram required for it to be "accessed", and this would continue through the steps until function was "restored" to the structure. The metallic, recorded voice would inform the recruits of the issue and the location of the problem, but leave everything else to them. If they made repeated errors, the machine would break, and they would be presented with a different projection to fix.

Avlex thought about what Lucean said. Is she right? Did I get my rank because of my skill? But what skills would fit my rank if I have a robotic sleeve. He shook away his thoughts when they reached the training area. He watched the hologram and tried to figure out what they were doing but you weren't a ship captain you were a soldier so what could you do?

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Survivor watched as the hologram worked. He began to think he might get some big job but then conceded thinking he would end up with some cargo job. He would not mind that either. Mostly because it might be a way to get his dang suppressor off of him and he could see if his personal ship was on here. If it was and not ransacked he would be able to get his PDA and with it a perfect way to access the ships systems and maybe add a few fun viruses courtesy of the Xliveien Confederate Party Extremists.

Emperor Tius held up a claw as the crowd continued to celebrate below him. Just as he thought about joining in on the fun, he heard.... an unusual voice. 

A message from some alien named Commander Ilinya. He smiled to the crowd and walked backwards into his room before slamming his doors shut and ordering his servant to leave the room. "Did you hear that, my friend," Tius asked to the scientists. The message seemed to have stilled their rage, and in its place came an uneasy chill (Get it?).

"Yes sir. We heard that.. message," said one of the scientists on the holo screen. "Months ago, you said that any aliens wouldn't be able to track us down! So why, are there UF-freaking-O's orbiting my planet," screamed Emperor Tius as his eye opened a bit wider before it was poked by his headpiece. "And I hate this idiotic hat," he yelled, throwing the relic to the ground, which caused one of the horns on it to become slightly bent.

None of the scientists answered, not 100% sure themselves. Emperor Tius groaned and prepared another communicator to speak with this Ilinya. He picked up the headpiece and placed it atop himself. "Let's just hope these aliens know how to receive our visual and audio," he grumbled.

He flicked on the communication device and put on his best political smile as he said, "Hello Miss Ilinya, or Commander Ilinya if you prefer. I am Emperor Tius of Siloni. I do want to apologize if you feel that we breached your privacy."

Excuse... Excuse.... Ah! I got it! Tius thought just before he continued, "My communication scientists never meant to spy on whatever conversation you had, but only to see if you existed or not. Though they botched it up! Being a... commander, I'm sure you know what I'm talking about when lower ranks ruin plans, am I right?" He did his best to make the chuckle when he finished sound real, not realizing these aliens probably don't know what a real Silonian chuckle sounds like.


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Suflet Călit waved a hand at Hissin while saying, "Oh don't worry about it!"

These aliens are a threat. Why do the Nevarzians dislike them? It must be for a good reason. How do I get them out of here!? That guy has serious anger issues. Better butter up the problem child, otherwise he may try something. I wouldn't want to have to ask for help on this Nevarzian device so soon.

"Anger happens to the best of us, I am just glad we have been.. privileged to meet what seems to be a very powerful race," he said, angling that last part towards the more angry one. Thankfully Nisipian mouths are somewhat backwards, otherwise the others might have noticed Suflet Călit throw up a little in his mouth from saying the last part of his sentence.

"I have a plan but I have to do it myself. For all we know she's here right now listening to us."

Without much warning Fluffy turned on her cloak and snuck off.

Fluffy made her way to the outside of the control room and scattered a bunch of cloaked micro droids. "This isn't their usual purpose but in theory once she steps on one of these it will crackle, giving away her position and at the same time mildly damaging her foot which should off balance her. Then I just have to try and knock her down without getting poisoned."
Her poison is most likely alkaline so if she does poison me I may be able to counteract it with the acidic anti-venom in the side pocket of my belt. All I have to do know is wait."

Keo gave Corena a rather strange look, many thoughts rushing through his head. The most prominent, of course, being that Corena was a Ryun, and she was a member of the Confederacy, and that they should be enemies. Though, there was no reason for them to be fighting. They both seemed to know that.

Keo dipped his head in response to Corena's greeting, saying to her, "I am Keo Kal Dosuul. I suppose that we're going to be training together as engineers?" Keo, despite the trusting tone of his voice, was wary, and his eyes revealed it.

To all appearances, Ariz seemed to be paying close attention to his training. But in his mind the thought still lurked: Just give me a weapon, and I shall kill as many of you as I can before I fall.
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Terrin smirked a little. "A wise observation. The Markovan Empire is indeed a powerful one, and we hold a great deal of territory through our conquests."

"But we're always ready to make friends," said Hissin, hurriedly. No sense in frightening this sensitive alien.
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Zara sneaked towards the control room, cloak engaged. She could see the door. She paused. Something didn't feel right. She narrowed her eyes, sniffing a little, her forked tongue sliding in and out of her beak. Slowly, she began to advance, her hands and claws ready to strike with venom. She put a foot forward.

Crunch.

Suflet Călit decided it would be best to try and make friends with these Markovians for now. He realized that this Kitty was only interested in displaying his might and power, while the other was more reasonable and prefers to make peace. Complete opposites.

Oh sands why do you always give me such challenges... Suflet Călit thought. What has worked on creating alliances for the Nisip so far... Before he even finished thinking, he said, "How about we get rid of this uneasy feeling with a nice, big, Nisipian banquet, eh? All you can eat and moreso! Think of it as an apology for my offending you, Sir Terrin."

I'll make sure to tell the waiters to spit in his food.

"I'm sure that will be delightful," said Terrin smiling, but with a look in his eyes that seemed to suggest he had guessed Suflet's last thought.

"Indeed," agreed Hissin. "Such a thing does sound like a good opportunity for us to get to know each other better."

With that crunch came a small crackle of energy that scorched Zara's foot. Suddenly a knife appeared out of thin air and flew towards the Liirlith.

Zara dodged, but not fast enough to receive a deep cut on her arm. Hissing with fury, she lashed out with a venomous claw at the area the knife seemed to have come from.

"Missed me stupid worm. But that knife did a number on you though. I can smell it easily. And now I don't need my eyes to see where you are.
So scalebrain. Are you scared of me?"

Zara's face twisted into a malicious grin. "The Children of the Vara fear nothing. Why don't we make thisssss more interesssssting?"

Zara then turned off her cloak, making herself completely visible.

((Note that the following was done with the permission of Whoster.))

The Purists continued their pilgrimage of escape and zealous hate through the sewers of Ekest. The Jorro'kil didn't have much time, and they knew it, and so they attempted to quicken their pace, though they were encumbered by the body of the deserter and the radical actions of a most heretic Jorro'kil. "The Krathunians are filth. Why would they claim to have created us? It is absurd, and they must be silenced for this," Xaer exclaimed with a dramatic tone. He saw that he would need some inspirational words, and so he continued to protest against the existence of the Krathunians. It was clear to the others that the youthful Kil was delusional.

"They're the ragged, wretched beasts that plague our society and Ravena. They've made our great empire weak. I don't understand why Velsen would want to treat them as more than animals. Still, we will succeed, and they will-" Suddenly, Xaer went silent, twitching slightly. His hands, put in a position for emphasis in his speech, became a slightly lighter coloration. He spasmed in pain, his eyes rolling up and arms going limp. Blood streamed from the center of his chest as a dagger materialized, stabbed cleanly through the center of his body. Nvarn slowly came out of cloak, the knife held backhanded, the duo facing in opposite directions. He quickly pulled the blade out, and Xaer fell to the floor, dead.

Nvarn rotated in his position, his left hand holding his blade and the right armed with his rifle, currently locked into the medium range setting. "All of you are under arrest," He growled in a menacing tone. "Attempting escape or the useless gambit of trying to take my life will serve nothing but to bring you closer to death."

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Corena nodded, noting Keo's strange look. She knew of the hostilities between the Federation and the Greater Dominion - Though the two had attempted negotiations, the Vil'Nolwikkans had decided to form the Terminus Pact with the Vrentus, thus becoming enemies of the Confederacy. However, Corena was alienated from her society long ago, and the only remnant of the Federation she had was her fragmented and torturous memories, and Mischief. The Wreae, at the moment, was occupied, still infiltrating the network on the ship.

Corena worked with ease on the holograms, making very little mistakes. Her line of work was dangerous, and there was a very slight margin for error, and even so, that could get you killed by anything from what you're attempting to fix to your employer at the moment. She decided to break the relative silence with Keo and attempt to take away the feeling in the Nolwikkan's mind that she was the enemy.

"So..." Corena began, turning her head slightly to Keo. "Where are you from?"

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Ilinya stared at the COMM device aboard the ship with growing interest and very slight amusement. "At times, yes," She mused, though she was wary of this new figure. The fact that a low ranking scientist had botched up the listening devices of whatever species this was did not matter, as it didn't change the fact that they had been spying on the conversation. Nonethless, Ilinya decided not to call Tius out on this, despite her growing suspicion, and investigate instead. That was her job, at least. "So, Emperor," She began. "Tell me about your people and your illustrious empire." Better to give them a false sense of superiority and security, then ruin it later, she thought. It could expose their true attitudes.